Lacklustre day for market

THE ISEQ index finished down 36.45 at 5211.49 yesterday. Irish Life & Permanent released results that showed pre-tax profits to the end of 2003 were down almost 14%.

However, signs of a second-half recovery and a good start to 2004 saw the stock closing 2c higher at €13.35.

AIB fell 19c to €12.11 as the stock went ex-dividend, while BoI slipped 3c to €10.60.

Elsewhere, FBD Holdings added 40c to €14.90 and Elan had a roller-coaster day before closing at €13.60.